Medicos train with 260kg dummies for obese

by ojacques

Owen Jacques
News Editor

Owen Jacques is an award-winning investigative journalist from Mackay, now based on the Sunshine Coast as APN Australian Regional Media’s Online News Editor. He has a strong background reporting on politics, business and breaking news. Owen has also specialised in resources reporting, which included a successful campaign to fight 100% fly-in, fly-out mining in rural Queensland towns.

Princess Alexandra also has a "Bariatric Advisory Committee" with a variety of clinical minds "dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and capability of bariatric medicine".

It was formed in 2008, once hospital management realised the what it took to deal with the very heavy.

The issue remains "very high on the agenda" for the hospital, according to executive director Dr Stephen Ayre.

"Obesity is now recognised as the fastest growing health problem in the developed world," he said.

"If current trends continue, more than 60% of Queensland adults, or 3.7 million people, will be overweight or obese by 2020."

Prince Charles Hospital acting director of nursing Cherie Franks said patients can be too big for MRIs or other equipment if they exceed a "safe working limit" set by manufacturers.

It was an experience shared by Dr Ayre.

"In these cases, the best available alternative or clinical strategy us used," Dr Ayre said.

He said hospital procedures were dedicated to caring for bariatric patients, included specific training for staff.

The dummy is used to ensure staff know how to shift the obese without injuring themselves.

One company that offers the 260kg dummy, describes it as the "Bariatric Extreme Model".

The $4150 mannequin comes with a pair of XL-sized pyjamas.

The logistics of moving, transporting and treating the obese is not a problem faced by hospitals alone

Last week APN reported how Queensland Ambulance Service had previously spent more than $1 million to buy four "Specialised Transport Retrieval Units" - oversized ambulances that can lift and carry up to 500kg.